Intra-Organizational Social Capital and Product Innovation: The Mediating Role of Realized Absorptive Capacity

Frontiers in Psychology

Mario J. Donate¹  Beatriz Ortiz²  Fátima Guadamillas² 

[1] Department of Business Administration, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain;Department of Business Administration, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain;

关键词: intra-organizational social capital;    realized absorptive capacity;    product innovation;    biotechnology and pharma industries;    mediating role;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.624189

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

This paper examines the influence on product innovation of factors based on a company’s transformation and exploitation of knowledge gathered from its intra-organizational relationships. Specifically, this paper analyses the influence of intra-organizational social capital (SC) (i.e., comprised of structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions) on realized absorptive capacity (RACAP). Moreover, it analyses the mediating role of RACAP on the relationship between internal SC and product innovation. Based on a sample of companies from the Spanish biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries, two hypotheses were tested using a structural equations model and the partial least squares (PLS) technique. The results support both hypotheses, suggesting that the development of strong and tightly knit links based on a common understanding and trust among company members lead the firm to develop dynamic capabilities for transforming and exploiting knowledge acquired externally, which fosters innovation based on new product development. Research limitations, implications and future research are also discussed by the authors of the paper.

【 授权许可】

CC BY